RUNDLE Tailoring will continue its “fashion forward” focus in 2019 by boosting its online services. Andrew Rundle and wife Bronwyn, the fourth owners of the iconic tailoring business created by Andrew’s great grandfather Richard Thomas in 1908, have been refreshing the company since taking the reins in 2016. They commissioned celebrity stylist Lara Lupish, founder and editor-in-chief of Façon Magazine &amp; Façon Creative, to redesign the business website and lift its social media presence. They now plan to replicate their reputation for personalised, in-store service online. “Our website allows customers to interact with us – booking a fitting and lodging their measurements – however we will enhance that by enabling them to purchase online,” Mrs Rundle says. GALLERY: Greg Ray’s history of Rundle Tailoring in photographs Having traded through war, depression and recession, Rundle Tailoring boomed in the 60s, 70s and 80s as it cemented itself as the nation’s leading manufacturer of suits, from made to measure items for retail clients to ready to wear lines for brands including Country Road and Tony Barlow. When the slashing of tariffs for garments allowed cheaper imports to flood the market and manufacturing moved offshore, demand for their wholesale and retail garments ebbed and their bank forced the business into receivership in 1998. Andrew Rundle restarted the business with his parents as a boutique manufacturer, enhancing his knowledge under the guidances of master tailor Giovanni D’Amico. “There was a lot of stress in a challenging business that was quite large and when we started again small I was very optimistic,” says Mr Rundle, who recalls running through the “rabbit warren” of the company’s former Scott Street premise, where hundreds of staff once toiled. Now in the throes of making the corporate uniform for long-term clients the Newcastle Knights, the couple say current challenges include an unstable political and economic climate. But they play to their strengths: a passion for manufacturing a quality product locally, personalised service and value for money (they also have a hire service).

Iconic Newcastle business Rundle Tailoring to boost its online offering to shoppers

RUNDLE Tailoring will continue its “fashion forward” focus in 2019 by boosting its online services.

Andrew Rundle and wife Bronwyn, the fourth owners of the iconic tailoring business created by Andrew’s greatgrandfather Richard Thomas in 1908, have been refreshing the company since taking the reins in 2016.

They commissioned celebrity stylist Lara Lupish, founder and editor-in-chief of Façon Magazine & Façon Creative, to redesign the business website and lift its social media presence.

They now plan to replicate their reputation for personalised, in-store service online.

“Our website allows customers to interact with us – booking a fitting and lodging their measurements – however we will enhance that by enabling them to purchase online,” Mrs Rundle says.

Having traded through war, depression and recession, Rundle Tailoring boomed in the 60s, 70s and 80s as it cemented itself as the nation’s leading manufacturer of suits, from made to measure items for retail clients to ready to wear lines for brands including Country Road and Tony Barlow. When the slashing of tariffs for garments allowed cheaper imports to flood the market and manufacturing moved offshore, demand for their wholesale and retail garments ebbed and their bank forced the business into receivership in 1998.

Andrew Rundle restarted the business with his parents as a boutique manufacturer, enhancing his knowledge under the guidances of master tailor Giovanni D’Amico.

Rundle Tailoring has designs on online shopping

Family business: Bronwyn and Andrew Rundle in their Newcastle West retail and manufacturing showroom. Picture: Marina Neil

Made to measure: Suits for all shapes at Rundle Tailoring. Picture: Marina Neil

Swatch it: Andrew Rundle with European fabric swatches for suits he can make to measure for clients. Picture: Marina Neil

Passion: Many staff at Rundle Tailoring have been employed at the company for decades.

“There was a lot of stress in a challenging business that was quite large and when we started again small I was very optimistic,” says Mr Rundle, who recalls running through the “rabbit warren” of the company’s former Scott Street premise, where hundreds of staff once toiled.

Now in the throes of making the corporate uniform for long-term clients the Newcastle Knights, the couple say current challenges include an unstable political and economic climate. But they play to their strengths: a passion for manufacturing a quality product locally, personalised service and value for money (they also have a hire service).